I used to be Britain's longest-running wrestling blogger. Then I got a proper job.

Monday, 31 December 1990

Anglo-Force: The Telepathic Policeman Chapter 1

The new Prime Minister, Neil Smith, sat in hi new surroundings at 10 Downing Street. Many papers lay on the desk in front of him. He was putting the final touches to his first cabinet. Then, a call came through from his secretary.

“Mr. Smith, Mr. Kennedy is here to see you.”
“Show him in please.”
A few seconds passed. Smith was surprised to see Simon Kennedy, one of the newest M.P.’s in Westminster, entering the room not in a wheelchair but on a pair of crutches.
“Before you ask.” said Kennedy. “I decided to give these things a try. After all, my wheelchair can’t get up the back benches, can it?”
Kennedy sat in the chair opposite Smith.
“Simon, I have a special job for you in my government, one I think is well suited to you, considering your past employment.”
“You mean my stint as Mr. X, don’t you? I hope you haven’t told anyone else about that.”
“Don’t worry Simon, your secret is safe in my hands. What I am saying is that I want you to become Home Secretary.”
Kennedy rubbed his chin.
“I don’t know Neil. It’s such a big step. I’ve only been an M.P. for a couple of weeks.”
“But I think you have the skills to succeed, Simon. Since the inception of the Anglo-Force project the Home Secretary’s job has become doubly important. The Home Secretary has become a sort of over-seer to Anglo-Force, defining policy for that organisation. Now, in their current troubles, they need someone to show them the way, point them in the right direction, put them back on the right track as it were. I believe you are the man who could do that.”
“I’m still not sure about this. There are many more experienced me or women in the party who could do this job. Why not choose one of them?”
“Because you were on the inside once. You know what it takes to run an organisation such as Anglo-Force. And I’m sure they would respect someone like you, a former leader of theirs. So, what do you say? Will you take me up on my offer?”
Kennedy thought for a few moments.
“When can I start?”

It was indeed a time of change for Anglo-Force. Officially they now numbered only two, Star Man and White Knight, but that as all about to change. Star Man and White Knight sat at the table in the conference room.
“In our current situation we have no choice.” said White Knight. “We need James Watt.”
“I’m afraid James is in no condition to take command at the moment.” said Magus. “He is still somewhat weak from his physical changes. It may be some time before he takes you up on your offer.”
“And what about Red Sun?” asked Star Man. “She was an asset when she was with us.”
“I definitely think you can rule her out for a while.” said Magus. “A battle with some mad villain is no place for a pregnant woman.”
“And with your former Warriors ruled out because of their studies that leaves only one other option.” said White Knight. “We must find new members!”

Dentonville Prison, in the south-west of England, was now fully operational. The complex, designed and built by Muir Industries, was designed to house the most dangerous and powerful villains that were captured by the law enforcement agencies, most notably Anglo-Force. Some of the current residents included the former members of the Black Squadron, Dr. Theophilus and Celsius, the Monstron, Colonel Chaney, and in the infirmary the man-beast Woodwose.
It was on this day that the new head of the super-powered crime fighting unit, newly-promoted Chief Inspector Paul Solo was making an inspection of the new facility. He was being shown around by the head of Muir Industries, Jock Muir. The two of them walked down one of the detention wings.
“Is is possible for us to hold up to five hundred super-criminals at any one time.” said Muir.
“I hear that the government considered using a new system that they use in America.” said Solo.
“Aye.” Muir replied. “But the Prime Minister vetoed the idea. I agree with him. The idea of putting these creeps in stasis, so they won’t age, makes my stomach churn.”
They continued on their tour. Solo was very impressed with the complex.
“So tell me.” said Solo. “How do you power all of this? It must be a drain on the national power grid.”
“Come with me.”
Muir led Solo into an elevator. The elevator took them far below the ground. When the elevator stopped Solo was amazed at what he saw. It was another huge complex, to rival the size of the one above.
“Welcome to Dentonville’s own source of power.” said Muir. “The first nuclear power station to be built underground!”
“I didn’t know such a thing was possible.”
“It has been for a number of years, but this is the first time the funds have been made available. After all, this is a joint effort between the government, Muir Industries and Phineas Magus!”
The enormity of the underground cavern amazed Solo, but he did have one reservation.
“What would happen if there was some sort of accident with the nuclear reactor?” he asked. “A meltdown, or something else.”
“A back-up plan would be implemented. We have a small cavourite generator that could be used. We don’t use it now because it costs too darn much to run, almost three times the cost of our nuclear reactor.”
“The government has save some money somewhere then!” laughed Solo.
Muir and Solo then went back to the elevator, and began to return to the surface. Muir pressed the appropriate button, and the lift started to move. But it was moving slower than it should. Muir again pressed the button, but the lift stopped altogether.
“What’s wrong?” asked Solo.
“I don’t know.” said Muir.
Muir reached for the telephone. The line was dead.
“I don’t understand.” he said.
The lights inside the lift went out. A slight cracking sound could then be heard from above.”
“That sound.” said Muir. “It sounds like it’s coming from the cable above.”
Muir was right. The lift cable was very close to snapping. A few seconds later it did, and the left was sent plummeting back towards the underground cavern. The force of the drop flung Muir and Solo to the floor of the life. Seconds later the lift crashed to the bottom with a resounding thud. Solo was sent flying against the wall of the lift, and he hit his head badly. The impact rendered him unconscious. Muir escaped without injury.

Slowly, Paul Solo began to regain his senses. At first things seemed a little misty, a little hazy. The last thing he remembered was being in the lift with Jock Muir at Dentonville Prison. His eyesight then began to clear. He was no longer lying on the floor of the lift, he was in a bed. He could tell from the antiseptic smell that he was in a hospital. Slowly he began to sit up. He looked around. He was in a room by himself. Then he saw a face through the window of the door. It was a nurse. The face was soon gone, but a few seconds later the door opened. The nurse walked in, and she was closely followed by an Asian doctor.
“Where am I?” Solo asked. “What happened?”
“It’s okay, Inspector Solo.” said the doctor. “You’re in hospital. You took a blow to your head. For a while it was touch and go, but you’ve obviously pulled through.”
The nurse took Solo’s pulse.
“How long have I been out?” Solo asked.
“About ten days.” the doctor replied. “You were in a coma for four of those. After that your concussion seemed to heal at a remarkable rate.”
“Concussion?”
“Yes, sustained in the lift accident. You were transferred here to Guy’s after a day.”
Solo shook his head.
“It may seem a bit confusing now, Inspector. Perhaps you’d better get some rest.”
Solo lay down on the bed. He was a bit disorientated. He was soon asleep.

Solo was released from hospital two days later. He had made remarkable progress. It was first thought he would be in hospital for a further month.
After a few days at home he began to get bored. Solo was the sort of person who always had to be doing something, so he decided to pay a visit to his friends at Scotland Yard. He walked into the CID room. He was greeted by many of his fellow officers who were pleased to see him well and back on his feet again. He then saw one of his oldest police friends, Inspector Lewis. Solo knew Lewis from years back, when they had gone through training together. Lewis did not look happy.
“What’s wrong?” Solo asked. “Strain of the job?”
“Strain of this bloody case.” Lewis replied.
Lewis handed Solo the file.
“The Sanders Murder?” Solo queried.
“Yeah. No murder weapon, a well-liked man, no enemies. Nothing missing from his flat. He was just found lying at home with five stab wounds.”
“I’ve got a couple of theories about that.” said Solo. “Mind if I take a look at the scene?”
“Are you sure? You are up to it, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never felt better.”
The two drove to the flat in north London. Although the building was no longer sealed off the flat in which the murder occurred still was. Lewis unlocked the door.
“I shouldn’t really be doing this.” said Lewis. “After all, this is no longer your department.”
They walked into the flat.
“As you can see.” said Lewis. “Nothing has been disturbed or taken. The body was found there.”
Lewis pointed to a spot in the centre of the room. Solo walked over that that spot, and kneeled down. It was then that something happened. There was a sudden on-rush of emotion into Solo’s mind. Images began to appear inside his head. At first they seemed very hazy, then they began to clear. Solo could see the murder victim standing in the room, talking on the telephone. The word fraud began to ring out throughout his mind. It seemed that was the only word the victim was saying on the phone. Then he saw another man in the room with the victim. He could see clearly that this man had a knife in his hand. The man walked over to the victim. The victim turned around. It as then that it happened. He was stabbed repeatedly. The victim was shocked and let out no cry of pain. He then slumped to the ground, in the centre of the room. He then saw the other man walk over to the cocktail cabinet, pull the entire thing away from the wall, and put the knife under the carpet. He then put the cabinet back in place. It was then that Solo saw the man’s face. He knew this man. He was a well known city financier, Peter Johnson. Solo knew of this man from various television reports.
“Is everything alright?” Lewis asked.
Solo did not reply. He walked over to the cocktail cabinet.
“Better not drink anything from there.” Lewis said. “That could be evidence.”
Solo began to move the cabinet away from the wall. He then pulled the carpet up. He then saw a blood-splattered knife.
“I think this is your murder weapon.” said Solo.
“But how…?”
“May I also suggest you try to contact Peter Johnson, a friend of the victim. I believe he is involved in insider trading and killed Sanders to stop him from talking.”
They returned to Scotland Yard. Peter Johnson was brought in for questioning. After a few hours Johnson confessed to the killing. A case that seemed unsolvable was solved in a matter of minutes by Solo. How he had done it he did not know. He was adept in the art of deduction but he had never been able to solve a crime like this before. This concerned him greatly. He did not know what to do.